Culture

As a performing art, ballet arrived in Serbia much later than in western Europe or in Russia. In the early 20th century, only some enthusiasts in Belgrade were interested in dance and ballet as a form of art. The first and the most dedicated champion of dance as an official form of art in Serbia was Maga Magazinović (1882–1968), a person of versatile talents, who was always ahead of her time. She was the first woman to graduate from the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade and the first woman who wrote for the POLITIKA daily. Marija - Maga Magazinović was born in Užice, Western Serbia, in 1882. She graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade in 1904, in the class of distinguished Serbian philosopher Branislav Petronijević.

The chief of the archeological team at the Iustiniana Prima site, Vujadin Ivanisevic said that the seals were found during summer's excavation at Acropolis, the place where was the seat of the Archbishopric in Iustiniana Prima. This great discovery is one additional evidence that Iustiniana Prima was a birthplace of Iustinian.

The Belgrade National Theatre celebrated its 143rd anniversary on November 22. The celebration included various exhibitions and presentations and The Demons, a novel by Dostoyevsky adapted for the stage, was premiered. The ceremony was also marked with the presentation of awards. The theatre manager, Božidar Đurović, said that the Friends of the National Theatre Club is to be founded with a view to expanding the circle of theatre lovers. The „Raša Plaović“ award, named after one of the best Serbian theatre actors of the 20th century, went to actress Nataša Ninković for her role in Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler. The award was established for the purpose of the affirmation of the highest values in the art of acting and the stimulation of creative efforts on the stage. It is presented for best acting achievements of the season in professional theatres in Belgrade.

On the occasion of the 133rd anniversary of the Kolarcev People’s University in Belgrade, the celebratory program was organized on November 22 and annual awards ceremony of this endowment. At the traditional gathering of the Kolarac Endowment, in celebration of the anniversary and patron saint’s day of this institution, painter Nina Radoicic has received the annual award for the best exhibition, entitled “Afghani women”, which was on display in February. The plaques for extraordinary merits have been awarded to historian Ljubodrag Dimic, astronomic observatory in Belgrade and RTV Studio B.

The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts has marked the 170th anniversary of its foundation. During the introductory part of the ceremony, Serbian President Boris Tadic said that the Academy is expected to be an institution that will participate in the development, reformation and modernization of society and which will ensure independence of strategic assessment, measures and risks of primary, economic, technological and socio-economic development. Jelica Tapuskovic has more.

The Moscow Synodal Choir gave a concert on November 23, 2011, at the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The choir is conducted by Russia’s Honoured Artist A. Puzakov. The theme of the concert was “Russian church music through five centuries”. They sang both hymns of the Byzantine plain chant and modern choral music, including works composed by Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev).

The concert was given in the framework of the Year of Russia in Spain and Spain in Russia. Over one thousand and a half people gathered for it, among them Catholic clergy and pilgrims. Present at the event were Russian Ambassador A. Kuznetsov, Santiago de Compostela Mayor Gerardo Conde Roa, Rector of the University of Santiago de Compostela Juan Casares Long and other dignitaries.